System, method and article of manufacture for virtual point of sale processing utilizing an extensible, flexible architecture

Abstract

Secure transmission of data is provided between a plurality of computer systems over a public communication system, such as the Internet. Secure transmission of data is provided from a customer computer system to a merchant computer system, and for the further secure transmission of payment information regarding a payment instrument from the merchant computer system to a payment gateway computer system. The payment gateway system evaluates the payment information and returns a level of authorization of credit via a secure transmission to the merchant which is communicated to the customer by the merchant. The merchant can then determine whether to accept the payment instrument tendered or deny credit and require another payment instrument. An architecture that provides support for additional message types that are not SET compliant is provided by a preferred embodiment of the invention. A server communicating bidirectionally with a gateway is disclosed. The server communicates to the gateway over a first communication link, over which all service requests are initiated by the server. The gateway uses a second communication link to send service signals to the server. In response to the service signals, the server initiates transactions to the gateway or presents information on an a display device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for communicating between a server and one or more payment gateways, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a message by the server;   (b) parsing the elements message into one or more data;   (c) determining a type of payment transaction based on the one or more data elements;   (d) selecting a payment message format and a communication protocol based on the type of payment transaction;   (e) formatting a payment message using the selected payment message format;   (f) establishing a communication link between the server and the one or more payment gateways; and   (g) transmitting the payment message to the one or more payment gateways using the selected communication protocol.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, including the step of encrypting the payment message. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected communication protocol is TCP/IP. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of payment transaction is characterized by a payment instrument, a currency type, a payment instrument issuer, a payor or a transaction amount. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further includes the step of selecting the one or more payment gateways based on the type of payment transaction. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of selecting a payment message format and a communication protocol is based on the selected one or more payment gateways. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment message is transmitted from the server with an indicia based on the one or more payment gateways. 
     
     
       8. A system for communicating between a server and one or more payment gateways, comprising: (a) means for receiving a message by the server;   (b) means for parsing the message into one or more data elements;   (c) means for determining a type of payment transaction based on the one or more data elements;   (d) means for selecting a payment message format and a communication protocol based on the type of payment transaction;   (e) means for formatting a payment message using the selected payment message format;   (f) means for establishing a communication link between the server and the one or more payment gateways; and   (g) means for transmitting the payment message to the one or more payment gateways using the selected communication protocol.   
     
     
       9. A system as recited in claim 8, including means for encrypting the payment message. 
     
     
       10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the selected communication protocol is TCP/IP. 
     
     
       11. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the type of payment transaction is characterized by a payment instrument, a currency type, a payment instrument issuer, a payor or a transaction amount. 
     
     
       12. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein (d) further includes means for selecting the one or more payment gateways based on the type of payment transaction. 
     
     
       13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the selecting a payment message format and a communication protocol is based on the selected one or more payment gateways. 
     
     
       14. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the payment message is transmitted from the server with an indicia based on the one or more payment gateways. 
     
     
       15. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program being configured to facilitate communications between a server and one or more payment gateways, comprising: (a) a code segment for receiving a message by the server;   (b) a code segment for parsing the message into one or more data elements;   (c) a code segment for determining a type of payment transaction based on the one or more data elements;   (d) a code segment for selecting a payment message format and a communication protocol based on the type of payment transaction;   (e) a code segment for formatting a payment message using the selected payment message format;   (f) a code segment for establishing a communication link between the server and the one or more payment gateways; and   (g) a code segment for transmitting the payment message to the one or more payment gateways using the selected communication protocol.   
     
     
       16. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15, including a code segment for encrypting the payment message. 
     
     
       17. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the selected communication protocol is TCP/IP. 
     
     
       18. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the type of payment transaction is characterized by a payment instrument, a currency type, a payment instrument issuer, a payor or a transaction amount. 
     
     
       19. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein (d) further includes a code segment for selecting the one or more payment gateways based on the type of payment transaction. 
     
     
       20. A computer program as recited in claim 19, wherein the selecting a payment message format and a communication protocol is based on the selected one or more payment gateways. 
     
     
       21. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the payment message is transmitted from the server with an indicia based on the one or more payment gateways.